Wise Cities and Planetary Health: A Regenerative Vision with David Johnson from Naturecentred.org
In this thought-provoking episode of the Smart Cities Council Podcast, recorded at the Smart Cities Summit North America in San Francisco, Fanni Melles, PhD, sits down with David Johnson from Naturecentred.org to explore a transformative vision for urban futures.
David, also Vice President at AGI Avant and founder of Synergy Architecture, brings a unique perspective shaped by decades of work in regenerative urban development. He advocates for "wise cities" over merely smart ones, emphasizing holistic, nature-centric solutions that prioritize planetary and human health span—the years spent healthy and productive. Drawing parallels between reactive healthcare systems and urban "whack-a-mole" approaches, David calls for preventative, regenerative strategies to address challenges like resource depletion and ecological harm. From molecular-level material innovations to district-scale projects, he highlights the power of collaborative, nature-integrated urban design. Tune in for an inspiring discussion on redefining cities for thriving communities and a healthier planet!
Key Takeaways
0:00 - Introduction: Planetary Health Span and Urban Challenges
1:50 - Welcome to the Smart Cities Council Podcast!
2:10 - Introducing David Johnson and Naturecentred.org
3:10 - What Does "Smart City" Mean to David? Wise Cities Instead
4:10 - Why Cities? Optimizing Infrastructure and Nature
5:00 - David’s Journey: From Sustainability to Regeneration
6:30 - Biggest Challenges: Molecular to Ecological Health
8:40 - Opportunities: Regenerative, Not Just Sustainable, Cities
10:00 - Sustainability is Dead: The Need for Regeneration
12:20 - Defining Health Span: Healthy, Productive Years
13:20 - Cities as Illness Systems: The Whack-a-Mole Approach
15:00 - Planetary vs. Human Health Span: A Holistic View
17:00 - Moving from Extractive to Regenerative Economies
18:00 - Cities as Producers: Circular Economies and Urban Mining
19:30 - Redefining "Here" and "Now" for Long-Term Thinking
21:20 - Seven Generations: A Responsibility Framework
23:00 - Advice: Embrace AI as a Tool, Focus on People
24:40 - The Redwood Trees: A Lesson in Collaboration
26:20 - Takeaways from the Summit: Action and Shared Will
26:50 - Closing Thoughts: Carpe Diem for Urban Change
Learn More About David Johnson and Naturecentred.org:
David Johnson on LinkedIn
Naturecentred website
Naturecentred on Youtube
Habitablefutures.org website
Builditgreen.org website
Actnowbayarea.org website
AGI Avant Group website
Essence website
Senergy website
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